He looked up and realized that Tanzanite was focusing on Sailor Electra. With all the damage Electra had already taken today and at the close range Tanzanite would be attacking from, Electra didn't stand a chance. And she didn't seem to be in any condition to defend herself.
*Mi-chan!* He struggled to his feet again, favoring his left leg. But there was no way he could get to her in time.
Tanzanite lifted her hands to send some black lightning at Electra. "NO!" he screamed.
But he was not alone. Eryx also screamed this and sent a "Celestial Force" at Tanzanite. It knocked Tanzanite across the room.
Jian-wa blinked. Somehow Eryx was no longer evil even though Night Angel was still fighting Rozetoge. But from the look on Tanzanite's face, Eryx had not lost the extra strength that being evil had given her either.
He looked at Eryx. Something in her seemed to have snapped. Before Tanzanite had recovered Eryx rushed at her and started using her as her personal punching bag. He had never seen Eryx or Neko-chan so enraged. Not even when he had ticked her off at the dance or when he had betrayed her the same night. She was striking Tanzanite without hesitation or error, and Tanzanite wasn't being given a chance to retaliate.
*Serves you right, Tanzen-san*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tanzanite couldn't get an attack in edgewise. Eryx was taking attack of opportunity upon attack of opportunity against her. Punches, kicks, and physical attacks of all kind were coming at her so fast she could hardly catch her breath, much less attack back.
In between blows, Tanzanite could make out pieces of what Eryx was muttering to herself.
"�try to kill Mi-chan� make me evil� best friend betray us� hurt my girlfriend�."
Tanzanite wondered if maybe she hadn't pushed her a little too far. And maybe it wasn't such a good idea to have given her that extra power from Rozetoge.
Finally Tanzanite got a small success against Eryx. She managed to grab her by the leg mid-kick and push her to the ground. But her victory was short lived as, before she could act again, Eryx jumped up and gave one final "Celestial Force!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Night Angel continued to attack Rozetoge, his Knight instincts kicking in for the use of the b�. He sensed that Rozetoge was close to dying, which was good, as he was starting to wear down too.
He had been pretty aware of Eryx's attack upon Tanzanite, although he didn't quite know how Electra had healed her, but he couldn't do anything to help because he was actively engaged in combat with the yoma.
In a way, he was glad that Eryx was beating up Tanzanite alone. It gave her a chance to work out all the issues she had been having for the past week and a half. Attacking Tanzanite was probably quite therapeutic.
But he tensed when Tanzanite threw Eryx to the ground. He quickly finished off Rozetoge, only to realize that Eryx had already recovered from it and sent off an energy attack against Tanzanite.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After several minutes of attacking Tanzanite practically nonstop, Eryx felt her anger finally subside. She was pretty drained of energy and just wanted it to be over.
Unfortunately, about this time, Night Angel finished off Rozetoge. Without either her own energy or the ability to draw off the yoma's to sustain her, she couldn't have attacked if she wanted to.
As she finally started to come to terms with all that had happened, she was overwhelmed by it all. She fell to her knees and began to sob.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Night Angel watched as Eryx transformed back into Neko-chan after he'd killed Rozetoge and then collapsed.
"Koneko-chan!" he yelled and ran to her side. She was entirely too vulnerable there by herself. He placed himself between her and Tanzanite and just held her.
"Koneko-chan," he tried gently, "you need to get out of here."
She didn't seem to hear him. She just let him hold her and continued crying. "Neko," he said more firmly. He knew she was having a breakdown, but he couldn't let her stay here.
But it was too late. Tanzanite started towards them.
"Well, you might have thought that that little display would help you, but in the end, children, you'll see that I always win. I was willing to spare you, Neko, by letting you be my slave, but now I will make sure you die!"
"NO!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Electra had been vaguely aware of what was going on around her, but she hadn't actually been conscious of what was actually happening until just before Tanzanite had threatened Neko-chan.
"NO!" She jumped up, her eyes ablaze. Without hesitation, she threw a "Dazzling Bolts" at Tanzanite. It was to be the final attack. Tanzanite was finished. *No one threatens my family!*
The threat gone, she untransformed. Jian-kun, who had moved over to her while she was out of it, limped up to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Nice shot. Daijoubu ka, Mi-chan?"
She turned towards him and punched him in the face, flooring him. "That's for trying to kill me and Neko-chan!" she informed him. But in the next instant she grabbed him by the collar and wrenched him to his feet. She gave him a small peck on the lips. "That's for saving us."
She let him go and ran to Neko-chan. Night Angel moved aside to let her get to her twin.
"Neko-chan?"
Neko-chan answered with a barely audible "Mi-chan?"
Night Angel turned back into Tenshi-san and backed away to let Mi-chan embrace her sister.
"Gomen nasai, Mi-chan," Neko whispered.
"Shh, it's alright," Mi-chan comforted her.
"I'll meet you guys outside," Tenshi-san whispered to Mi-chan.
Mi-chan nodded and returned her attention to Neko-chan, who had obviously not recovered yet. "Neko-chan, are you ok?"
